Means for agitating washing, liming, or tanning solutions



March s, 1927.

B. RABAXTER MEANS FOR AGITA'IING WASHING, LIMING. 0R TANNING SOLUTIONS Fiied sept. 24. 1923 2 sheen-sheet 1 1,62 l March 8, 1927.. B. R. BAXTER* 03 7 A MEANS FOR AGITATING WASHING, LIMING, 0R TANNING SOLUTIONS Filed Sept. 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

U NI'TYED. STAT ES,

PATENT OFFICE.

MEANS FOR AGITATING W'ASHING, DINING, OR TANNING SOLUTIONS.

Application filed September 24, 1923, Serial No. 664,613, and in AustraliaA October 6, 1922.

This invention relates .to improved means for agita-ting washing, liming, or .tanning solutions in pits constructed with a horizontal. floor containing hides.

The great drawback to tanners modernizing their washing, liming, or tanning methods lies in the fact that the pits in use have to be discarded on account of being rectangular in shape as there is not a satisfactory device on the market that is applicable to a rectangular pit for the purpose of keeping the washing` liquid, lime or tanning solution in motion.

The present general method with rectangular pits is to pull out the hides daily and plunge in lime or other material by hand, this necessitating a good deal of labour besides being unsatisfactory as the distribution of lime or tanning is unequal. My de vice overcomes this difficulty and enables tanners to continue using their rectangular pits with satisfaction which otherwise could not be obtained and to utilize it for washing hides before liming.

In my device I provide a grate which occupies approximately two inches in depth on the horizontal floor of the pits, thus enabling shallow pits to be effectively used. The shallow pit saves considerable expense in working and material, in making solutionv to strength, as well as economizing water for filling the pit.

The device shortens considerably the time required from a week or fortnight for different goods to twenty four to thirty six hours. It also results in a better product.

But in order that my invention can be clearly understood I will now refer to the two sheets of drawings.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the complete apparatus showing two hides in position.

Figure 2, is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the rocker frame and removable grates, while,

Figure 3, is a fragmentary perspective view of the means employed for retaining the grates in position.

A represents a wooden or other lining or framework inside of the pit for holding the bars or rods C for the hide E to rest upon. B is a rocking frame positioned on the horizontal floor of the pit and provided with a transverse member J and stub axles or pins D on which it can be rocked by a connecting lever F secured to an eccentricor other form of driving -gear K on the shaft L. rI"he frame B is retained inv position .by the spindles or stub `axles revolving in bearings in the framework A, ,which `bearings are placed adjacent the horizontal floor surface in order that the grates may make actual parallelV Contact with said floor surface to displace the wet lime and sediment. The grates G are composed of longitudinal and/or transverse members detachably secured to the transverse shelves II, and held in position by slotted fastenings M and bolts I so that when required for cleaning or renewal they can be easily removed and replaced. The rocker frame B is formed rectangular in shape and its sides are cut as shown at B, Figure 2, and secured in an inverted position as shown, so that one end is at an angle to the other and one end only rests on the ioor at a time, the other end being off the floor so that when the frame is rocked the grates G agitate the solution or liquid in the pit.

E-E represents hides placed in position in the pit and on account of the shape of the hides, the -neck portion is placed youtwards from the centre of the pit, thus enabling the rocker frame B to have suflicient clearance without contacting with the hides E.

In operation, the hides E are placed over suitable bars or rods C and the rods rested on the lining or framework A. Power is imparted to the shaft L` so as to reciprocate the connecting lever F to rock the frame B on its spindles D. As the grates G are forced downwardly and then upwardly, they displace the liming or tanning or other liquid or solution, agitating and circulating it thus preventing the lime or other sediment from resting on the bottom of the pit, as such sediment is at once displaced by the grate making parallel contact with the floor surface. I-Ience the rocking member operates from the center and agitates the contents of the pit with a surging wave effect,

alternately and in opposite ydirections and in the same plane, and longitudinally of the suspended hides.

With this construction the tanning or liming operations can be carried out continuously, enabling the duration of the tanning process to be reduced.

I claim Means for agitating washing, liming or tanning solutions in tanning pits constructed vwith a horizontal fioor surface, comprising a supporting frame arranged to be placed in the bottom of a pit and provided at its upper side with removable hide hanging bars, a rocking member positioned midway in the supporting frame at the base thereof, having a centrally arranged pivot axis and adapted to rook on the floor of the pit and make actual Contact therewith, the opposite end porti-ons of said rocking` frame being at an angle to each other, said rocking niember having a bottom composed of spaced grate bars, the opposite end portions of the bottom being also at an angle to each other so that when one is in horizontal position the other is upwardly inclined, and the said pivot axis of said member being slightly below the angle between the end portions of the bottom so that at each movement o said member one bottom portion thereof contacts with the pit bottom in reaching a horizontal position and said end portions agitate ,and displace the sediment and lime with a surging Wave elieot alternately in opposite directions and in the same plane.

BENJAMIN RALPH BAXTER. 

